Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Cristian Pache continued his injury rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with no clear idea whether a recall to the Phillies is imminent.
In Thursday’s game, a 2-1 victory for the Iron Pigs that featured Brandon Marsh’s injury rehab debut, Pache went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout to drop his batting average in the minors this season to .179. He has played three rehab games this week.
The Phillies had an off-day on Thursday, but while they were in Toronto earlier this week manager Rob Thomson said the team wanted to give Pache a few more starts in the minors before he was activated.
He is eligible to be activated when the Phillies are ready to recall him. They start a series with the Washington Nationals on Friday.
Pache played five games last week in the minors — three with Class-A Clearwater and two with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He split time between center field and designated hitter.
Pache went 6-for-21 with six runs, five walks and seven strikeouts.
Pache has dealt with injuries all season. He tore his meniscus at the end of April and went on the injured list for six weeks before returning in mid-June. He played up until the All-Star break when the Phillies had to IL him against for right elbow irritation.
Pache had to have surgery to remove a loose screw causing that irritation. The screw was inserted in Pache’s elbow for a previous injury.
Pache is valued for his glove, but in just 53 plate appearances this season he’s slashed .327/.365/.592 with seven doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.
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